As a Hip-Hop junkie that has never once considered detox, I have to admit that Hip-Hop has been subject to mountains and mountains of Bad Ideas. That is the theme of this new column that examines this re-occurring theme with rap.   Hip-Hop is no different than than other genres, which have seen a number […]

“All things come to an end. … Now, the spirit of Hip-hop will always be alive… as long as there’s inner cities, there’s ghettoes, and there’s poor people.” —Nas[1] Last week BBC News featured a report couched in questioning: “Has hip-hop grown up?”[2] Besides the obvious condescension, we learned next to nothing (!) about what […]

With the east coast U.S. expecting possibly the coldest winter in a decade, you’ll want to make sure you’re armed with stylish and cozy knits and fleece.   The cardigan made a big comeback and is here to stay. Although the “grandpa” styles are hot as well, many brands have updated the classic cardigan with […]

Check out Bill Cosby, and four African American men about race, family, music and a myriad of other matters in the community.Bill Cosby has been a lightening rod in the Hip-Hop community. He’s been a positive force for years, as an entertainer, comic and as an activist. Still, with his intentions in recent years have […]

There is nothing like a pair of fresh raw denim jeans.   They might be a little stiffer than soft vintage denim, but they have that new crisp look that automatically cleans up a casual outfit.   Mos Def in Too Black Guys   Where does raw (or dry) denim get its name?   It […]

Whether you like it or not, one trend that is hot on the runways and streets this season is double denim.   Along with acid wash and bleach splattered denim, its another one from the seemingly never ending 80s.   William Rast Fall 2009   This trend definitely seems to be difficult to digest for […]

    Developer/Publisher: 2K SportsPlatform: XBOX 360   Players: 1 – 10 (Online)Release Date: 10/6/09   Rating: A-   In the world of gaming, few releases fill the calendar with a yearlong hype until it hits the street. From role playing, first person shooters, sandbox adventure to driving; every genre has that one franchise title […]

I do this for Hip Hop! VH1 Hip Hop Honors celebrates 25 years of Def Jam I have yet to be officially invited to the VH1 Hip Hop Honors. Yes, I know many of you are sitting there with your mouths open and a cloud with a question mark over your heads wondering how such […]

 I’m sure there are quite a few people that are going to disagree with me on this, but I am going all out.   There is a very big issue with Hip-Hop.   Not enough weirdos in the game to sustain the voyeurs and the Hip-Hop head itching for something that doesn’t look like it […]

“I’m a bluesman moving through a blues-soaked America, a blues-soaked world, a planet where catastrophe and celebration… sit side by side. … Like my fellow musicians, I’ve got to forge a unique style and voice that expresses my own quest for truth and love. … I must unapologetically reveal my broken life as a thing […]

We noticed that when we’re talking about current trends in men’s urban fashion, it ignites a lot of passionate criticism here! Mostly because these trends have been leaning on the feminine side for some time now – slimmer fits, typically girly colors like pink and purple, “murses”, etc. The looks are coming back and being […]

As featured in this month’s issue of Complex magazine, ska style is making its way back this season and we want to show you how to get the look!     A tad edgier than the skater look and more relaxed than your typical punk rocker, the ska trend stems from a music genre that […]

  Rating: Near Classic   It’s why black women sit under those big, hot machines for hours and why black girls sometimes sit by the bedside worshipping white Barbie dolls: good hair. Chris Rock channels his inner Ken Burns, giving celebrities, hair stylists and clients, and public figures the third degree about their hair practices, […]

  Developer/Publisher: Rockstar GamesPlatform: SONY PSP Players: 1Release Date: 9/29/09 Rating: A-   Have you ever found yourself kicking back to some tunes thinking you could do better? Whether a casual listener or a long time music lover, chances are the thought of producing has come across your mind once or twice. But production equipment […]

“I spit the truth in lethal/ … It’s not the mic; it’s the mind I speak through/” — KRS-One & Buckshot, “Connection,” Survival Skills, 2009. Hip-Hop as a whole, as a cultural community, has always had a problem accepting criticism—whether constructive or conjured, exact or exaggerated. It’s in our bloodline. We suffer no critics, antagonists, or […]

Kiante Young is “The Sneaker Mann”. Traversing the country as on of the best known sneaker heads, he frequently appears on early morning shows as an on-air stylist, highlighting the latest styles and trends in sneakers.   “The Sneaker Mann”   He has appeared on ABC, NBC, FOX and WB affiliate stations in New York, […]

“I’m here to break away the chains, take away the pains, remake the brains…” “Follow the Leader” -Eric B & Rakim (1988) Twenty years ago the members of Public Enemy announced that they were going to raise up a nation of 5,000 black leaders. For a time it seemed to be working as many black […]

Today just getting word that one of our Hip Hop pioneers has passed. As I started writing this we’re still trying to officially confirm, but according to what DJ Premier twitted earlier Mr Magic who was best known as being among the first to have a Hip Hop show on a major radio station has passed.  Still […]

Rick Rubin and Russell Simmons joined forces 25 years ago to form Def Jam: A record label dedicated to hip hop.    Back then the roster included LL Cool J, the Beastie Boys, EPMD, and Slick Rick. Now there’s Method Man, Jay-Z, Kanye West and many more.   I just watched Krush Groove for the […]

The internet has been around in some form or another since the 1960’s, but didn’t get prominent until the 90’s. In the late 90’s AllHipHop was founded and a number of other urban progressives delved into the uncharted digital space. While it was a movement similar to the Wild Wild West, the movement slowed down […]